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Paula Creamer is using caddie Brian Funk for the first time at the 2014 CP Women's Open at the London Hunt and Country Club in London Ontario on Wednesday, August 20, 2014. (DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press)

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It takes more than a pair of sturdy arms to be a good caddie. It takes a friendly disposition, a keen eye and plenty of stamina to foster that special bond caddies and golfers share.

As LPGA icon Paula Creamer begins the first round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at the London Hunt and Country Club, she will be doing so with a new temporary sidekick after her longtime friend and caddie was sidelined by an injury.

Last weekend at the Wegman’s LPGA Championship in Pittsford, N.Y., Creamer watched as her caddie Colin Cann left the course in tremendous pain with back spasms shortly before she was scheduled to tee of in the second round.

“He’s like my brother and it is hard to see him in pain,” said Creamer, who has only had one other caddie in her career. “We’ve been together ten years.”

“I was standing on the putting green watching him and he’s in so much pain and I can’t help him. But I still had to go play,” she said. “He wouldn’t want me to not play.”

Creamer missed the cut at the tournament, putting an end to her 39-major-tournament streak of consecutive cuts as a professional golfer — a streak that surpasses Tiger Woods’ record.

“It wasn’t like I was hurt, it was just mentally hard,” she said. “I knew it was going to be tough.”

As Cann recovers from his injury, Creamer has enlisted the help of another seasoned caddie, Brian Funk.

It is the 17th year on the tour for this 44-year-old veteran, who has also carried the bag for CP Women’s Open participant Christina Kim in the past. And though Funk has some big shoes to fill, he is looking forward to working with Creamer.

“Our communication has been easy. We’ve kept it simple, it’s going well. Very comfortable,” said Funk.

The three days of practice play have helped the pair learn more about each others’ style.

“Brian has been very patient with me because I’m still learning a lot of things, too,” said Creamer,

And though Creamer wasn’t sure when Cann would be back on the course with her, she is grateful for the help and support she has received from Funk. “It’s been great, he’s got a great demeanour. He’s so nice and he’s been wonderful to have him out here,” she said.